Market Update: Commonwealth Investment Council Backs Cameroon’s Digital Economy Push with Smart Classroom – Full Analysis

Cameroon has inaugurated its first-ever Intelligent Classroom at Lycée Général Leclerc in Yaounde, marking a milestone in the country’s digital education drive under the National Development Strategy, NDS30. Delivered free of charge by the Commonwealth of Nations through the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC) in partnership with British education tech firm Promethean, the facility removes what officials describe as the single biggest barrier to digital schooling which is its high cost. According to officials, the initiative signals the Commonwealth’s backing of Cameroon’s digital economy ambitions, positioning smart classrooms as a gateway to modern, inclusive learning.

The facility was officially opened by Prime Minister Chief Dr Joseph Dion Ngute. Also present was the Global Chairman of CWEIC Lord Jonathan Peter Marland. It brought together government ministers, international partners, education stakeholders and students.

Promethean officials confirmed that the structure is equipped with 60 solar panels, battery storage, independent water supply and separate sanitation facilities. The unit is designed to operate fully off-grid and to international standards, allowing replication in areas with limited infrastructure.

According to Promethean, while the inaugural unit relies on imported components, all materials and construction capabilities exist locally in Cameroon, opening the door to domestic manufacturing, skills development, job creation, and long-term cost reductions on future deployments.

“This opens up the door for skill development, job creation, local capability, and also long-term cost efficiencies. Education transformation can also strengthen our environment right here in Cameroon by creating jobs,” a Promethean representative said at the ceremony.

Bridging the digital divide

During the launch ceremony, the Prime Minister described the project as “a very important milestone for the digitalisation of the infrastructure of the education sector in Cameroon”, stating that it reflects government’s policy of integrating digital technology into public services and the economy. Quoting the President’s 31 December 2018 address, he recalled: “It is essential that we do more to integrate digital technology into the functioning of our public service and our economy. The emerging digital society will not leave behind those who are left behind.”

According to the Prime Minister, the smart classroom supplements measures introduced since the COVID-19 pandemic to strengthen resilience in the education system. He noted that the unit can operate without connection to the national electricity grid or internet, helping to reduce the digital divide between urban and rural areas.

“This tool, once installed, does not depend on an internet connection. It produces its own energy and water. You can install this classroom anywhere in Cameroon and it will function,” he said.

The Prime Minister urged local and international partners to support the multiplication of similar centres nationwide to consolidate gains in digital education.

Lord Jonathan Peter Marland, Chair of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, said the initiative reflected strengthened cooperation with Cameroon during Commonwealth Week. He described the inauguration as “a thrill for all of us”, noting that the youth would be the primary beneficiaries.

On her part, the Minister of Secondary Education Pauline Nalova Lyonga linked the initiative to earlier multimedia resource centres introduced from 2004 and said artificial intelligence and digital tools would further modernise teaching methods.

“We were able to put this up in two weeks,” she said, thanking technical teams and the Ministry of Finance for logistical support. She announced that additional intelligent classrooms are planned for other regions, including the North-West and East, as part of a phased national rollout.

The Smart Classroom project forms part of Cameroon’s broader public administration modernisation agenda, which includes digital archiving, biometrics and process computerisation. Officials say expanding such facilities across secondary schools could enhance digital literacy, support innovation skills and contribute to workforce readiness aligned with the country’s economic transformation objectives.

Mercy Fosoh